Community Highlights: Meet DWAYNE HARRISON of 1ST QUALITY TAX SERVICE

Today we’d like to introduce you to DWAYNE HARRISON.

DWAYNE, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I’m an income tax professional at 1st Quality Tax Service. This family-owned business was established in 1999, and I’ve been a part of it since graduating high school in 2004, continuing through my academic life. I’ve always been drawn to numbers; mathematics is my specialty, and I find it strange that people dislike math because I love it. I utilize numbers in almost all aspects of my life. So, when I graduated high school, I started working in the business alongside my father. Though I was new to income tax preparation, I went on to college at Cal State University Dominguez Hills to pursue a bachelor’s in Business Administration with a primary focus in Accounting. While in college, I continued working in the business, and I enjoyed every minute of it. Even though income tax preparation is seasonal, I always seem to find a way to extend it as long as possible. I strive to be a year-round tax service office, unlike the competition, which closes at the end of tax season.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Although income taxes may appear straightforward, they often present complexities. This type of business requires meticulous attention, as even a single error can have significant repercussions. For instance, failing to record all income can lead to an audit. Consequently, perfection is essential when preparing income tax returns. Additionally, the urgency of clients seeking refunds to commence the year adds to the challenges. These clients typically contact me before the filing season commences, expecting a refund to be received within a short timeframe, akin to Amazon Prime’s delivery service.

As you know, we’re big fans of 1ST QUALITY TAX SERVICE. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
This organization specializes in tax preparation for both personal and business returns. We handle a substantial volume of returns, ranging from thousands annually, and also provide expertise in bookkeeping, tax planning, and resolution services.

Our unparalleled availability and reliability set us apart from other tax offices. While other offices may close at the end of the tax season, we remain open throughout the year, including during the off-season when clients receive correspondence letters.

On the brand front, we take great pride in our longstanding presence in the industry. Despite facing competition from major tax preparation companies like H&R Block and Jackson Hewitt, we have managed to establish ourselves as one of the few small brands that have successfully navigated the market alongside the larger players. We can be likened to a small dog that has been a loyal companion to the big dogs for nearly three decades.

Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
My great-uncle Leon Lyons deserves the Credit. He started doing taxes out of his house when taxes wasent even electronic yet. He took my father under his wing and showed him the ropes. My father usually goes to his house and helps him prepare taxes for his clients at the same time.. Eventually, IRS launched E E-File system, where taxes could be done on computers and submitted electronically. At that point, my father took over because my great uncle would have my father learn the e-file route to handle taxes. When my uncle passed in 2003, my father took over his clients and established his own along the way. I joined in 2004, but as of 2015, I’ve been the main person running the business. They deserve all the credit. I just keep it going

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.1stqualitytaxservice.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/1stqualitytaxservice
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/1st-quality-tax-service1

Image Credits
Dwayne Harrison